From Entrepreneur.com: We certainly know 2009 was not a good year to sell for most owners who wanted to sell a businesses.

In fact, closed business-for-sale transactions in the United States declined by 28% in 2009, according to a recent report.

The good news, is that 2010 shows strong potential for being a much better year for the business-for-sale market.

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BY Rhonda Abrams on USA Today: Today's column is for women business owners, so listen up.

Ladies, I'm challenging you to change the way you think about hiring if you want to grow — really grow — your companies.

It's time you take on a new role — "boss."

Here's a startling fact: nearly 7% of male-owned businesses gross more than a million dollars a year, but less than 3% of women-owned businesses do. In fact, there are only about 250,000 women-owned businesses that generate $1 million or more in sales a year. One reason: women's reluctance to hire.

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Check out franchise opportunities for women

By Nazir Daud of CityLocal: Many marketing opportunities are missed by companies relying too much on the internet, and specific keywords, in a blinkered attempt to become involved in the 'new technology'.

However, it is very easy to miss out through a lack of knowledge of the limitations of online marketing.

Any business will see marketing as a critical part of making sure that the company is meeting its objectives, and more importantly, meeting with customers' needs and expectations. However, many business owners see marketing as something necessary only at the launch of the business, or when launching new products or services.

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From Time: Credit is tight and customers scarce: it takes a little magic to maintain momentum.

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By Catherine Tool on iMedia Connection: You may think your website is the cat's pyjamas but you could be falling into some very basic traps that will be making your fanbase flee.

These simple rules will stop your customers switching off.

Well, it's mid February and time to be grumpy and opinionated I'd say. In twelve years of running digital copywriting agency Sticky Content, there are a few words and phrases I've grown to hate with a passion. If I had my way I'd ban them from all websites and for some sound commercial reasons too.

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By Nazir Daud of CityLocal: The way a business presents itself to customers, either potential or actual, can make a huge difference in terms of promotion, loyalty and the likelihood of success.

Customer service is an aspect of any business, whether a large corporate organisation or small home business run by a single individual. No business succeeds without customers, and in order to attract customers, it is increasingly necessary for businesses to be approachable, contactable, and interested in communicating with customers whenever there are any queries, or issues relating to the products or services available.

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By Nazir Daud of CityLocal: Product development is a crucial stage that many companies have to go through, frequently time and time again, and with it comes development of manufacturing techniques.

Firms have to make it right first time or they will have to face increased costs, lost sales, lost time, and lost share of the market. The outcome of this process can actually bring huge success or failure to a company.

But why is there a need to go through the product development stage? Is it a one time process that a company should undergo, and once developed surely a product is just that: a product?

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Green businesses didn't get the incentives they expectedFrom FT.com: It is a pity that renewable electricity was not used to galvanise world leaders into agreeing greater progress on cutting emissions in Copenhagen.

One small wind turbine can generate 500kW per hour. Threatening to channel that charge through politicians' trouser seats would have concentrated their minds.

The team at Dynamis has donned greasepaint and fancy dress costumes to bestow their annual Christmas message upon the world.

The results of Christmas videos past, present and....well....even further in the past, can be viewed on our Christmas Video page.

Please enjoy, and leave any comments below!

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Web design franchise; increase online trafficOnline sales are rising 12% year-on-year.

Online retail traffic has grown by 10% in the past year, and online sales are projected to increase by 12% by the end of 2009, according to Neilsen Online.

The internet is now the first port of call when searching for a product or service, so getting help from a web design franchise that ranks highly on search engines is vital in getting noticed, and giving your business the edge over competitors.

Dean Watmough, MD of ORCA Websites, says: “Now has never been a better time to get online. We make it quick and easy and most importantly affordable for small businesses to use the internet to their advantage.”

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Customers like to be kept up to date with brands they trustOne of the best ways to connect with customers is through a newsletter campaign.

Managing Director of ORCA Websites consultancy franchise, Dean Watmough, offers free advice to small businesses, who realise the internet is a lifeline they need to survive.

BOB: Tell us why newsletters are the best way to market…

Dean Watmough: Newsletters are effective for one simple reason: customers like receiving targeted messages from companies they care about.

They want to stay up to date on what you’re doing, they want to hear about new products and they want to hear about hot deals. The newsletter that lands in their inbox forces them to constantly be thinking about you.

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Beyond the Deal, a consultancy specialising in mergers and acquisition integration, is holding an integration briefing in London on December 11th.

The briefing, which will focus on the impact of cultural differences on acquisition value, will be held at Dryden Street, Covent Garden. A practical framework for understanding and discussing organisational culture will be provided by Beyond the Deal's integration experts and researchers, coupled with insights into the importance of assessing your own current and desired culture.

Approaches to assessing the culture of target acquisitions and understanding how cultural differences impact integration planning will additionally be dissected.

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Restaurants for sale around the worldWant to buy a restaurant and maybe move abroad?

Check out these restaurants for sale around the world.

Long Established Chinese Restaurant For Sale >> 
Virginia, US
$100,000

Prestigious Restaurant For Sale >>
Marbella
€149,500

Indian and European Restaurant For Sale >>
Waterford, Ireland
£195,000

Top Restaurant in Winelands For Sale >>
Western Cape, South Africa
SAR2.4m

Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria For Sale >>
Koh Tao, Thailand
$40,000

Buy a Nailzone FranchiseToday’s commercial climate may not support a less-than-perfect business plan as it might have done in the past, but there is still a demand for solid, well-run businesses that cater for their clients properly.

This is why the franchise market is worth investigation for those seeking to start up their own business, but keen to employ a tried and tested formula and receive the requisite help and support to get them off on the right foot.

Taking on a franchise, and especially one accredited by the British Franchise Association, allows people to take control of their own career and provide a proven service or product.

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Working from home takes time to prepare forBy Nazir Daud of CityLocal: Have you been considering home-based business opportunities?

If so, you're certainly not alone, as there are an increasing number of people who are considering the idea of working from home very seriously. The trouble is that many people have silly assumptions regarding this method of working.

Many of the really important issues which need to be considered very carefully before making such a life change are often not given much thought until the jump has been made.

In this article, let's have a look at some of the common assumptions and those matters overlooked, or not considered seriously enough.

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Being an entrepreneur: taking a leap into the 'known'By Nazir Daud of CityLocal: Entrepreneurialism can sound like a frightening word (and that's not just getting the spelling right!).

Unfortunately, many people assume that entrepreneurs are relentlessly successful go-getters flush with money, and the Midas touch that turns ideas into gold overnight.

The truth is very different. Ask any entrepreneur and they'll gladly put you right, and assure you that nothing could be further from the truth.

Ordinary people

Many people hold numerous misconceptions about independent business owners or sole traders, often generated from the media's obsession with the most successful entrepreneurs and the American Dream.

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Speculation is rife surrounding the much maligned search engine Ask.com, with many industry insiders hinting the Jeeves fronted service is up for sale.

Should the IAC owned search engine be hived off to either Google or Microsoft, the two most likely destinations in the event of a sale, then the lion's share of online search will be brought under just two roofs.

Microsoft seems the most plausible destination, although Ask.com is currently monetised through a deal with Google, so it seems hardly likely that Microsoft will want to pay to play.

Ask.com CEO Barry Diller conceded to Wall Street analysts on Tuesday that "the search business is challenging and its future is speculative", prompting those very same analysts to interpret this as a coded message to other search engine owners to get on the phone and make him an offer.

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David McNeil saw a Jani-King franchise opportunity as his route out of office politics and corporate routine. David talked with the Business Opportunities blog about the culture of franchise business and how to build a £500,000 turnover commercial cleaning franchise.

Business Opportunities Blog: Why choose a Jani-King cleaning franchise David?

David McNeil: I couldn't seem to dream up a unique or creative enough idea for my own business, and in order to succeed you need a proposition that stands out from the rest of the market. That's why I approached Jani-King.

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By Naz Daud of CityLocal: Many marketing opportunities are missed by companies relying too much on the internet, and specific keywords, in a blinkered attempt to become involved in the 'new technology'.

However, it is very easy to miss out through a lack of knowledge of the limitations of online marketing.

Any business will see marketing as a critical part of making sure that the company is meeting its objectives, and more importantly, meeting with customers' needs and expectations. However, many business owners see marketing as something necessary only at the launch of the business, or when launching new products or services.

Although it does serve a crucial purpose

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Unlike most industries that are enduring a difficult time in this turbulent economy, the arms industry seems to be growing - in particular, there is increased interest by buyers in companies with government related business.

The United States Department of Defence has spent more than $200 billion dollars on federal contracts - with more than 50,000 contractors on record in 2009. Thus far, the $200 billion dollars spent only accounts for approximately 65 percent of all awarded dollars for the fiscal year.

The March Group, a private mergers and acquisitions firm, has seen an increase in inquiries regarding defence-related businesses of all kinds, including those manufacturing guns, gun parts and ammunition; creating software and offering IT support; providing training and consulting; as well as those catering to shooting enthusiasts and hunters. In fact, defence expenditures globally increased by saw a 45 percent increase over a 10-year period since 1999 to $1.4 trillion dollars.

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